A History of British Birds, Thomas Bewick — 1805 Imperial Octavo Edition

£1,000.00

A History of British Birds, Thomas Bewick — 1805 Imperial Octavo Edition

Name: A History of British Birds, Thomas Bewick — 1805 Imperial Octavo Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4172
Price: 1000.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: Newcastle, Printed by Edward Walker, for T. Bewick; sold by him, and Longman and Rees, London, 1805.

Formatting: Imperial 8vo, 2 vols.

Condition Report: Very Good. These handsome volumes are firmly bound in a classic half-leather binding over marbled boards, presenting a highly attractive shelf appearance. The leather spines, featuring five raised bands and gilt lettering, remain supple, though they exhibit minor rubbing and gentle wear at the extreme head and tail caps, alongside light bumping to the leather-clad corners. The hinges are solid, and the text blocks are remarkably square and tight. Internally, the pages boast generous margins and retain a crisp quality, with the typical foxing largely confined to the preliminary leaves and title pages, leaving the majority of the leaves clean. The marbled page edges remain vibrant and unblemished.

Catalogue Note: This 1805 printing of A History of British Birds is highly esteemed among collectors and naturalists alike. Specifically identified as the larger paper "Imperial Octavo" variant (referencing bibliography numbers Roscoe 18b and 19b), this issue benefits from superior presswork on large paper. Bewick himself considered this expanded text his defining "Best Edition," vastly superior to its predecessors due to the meticulous care taken in the printing of the delicate woodcuts.

The volumes are abundantly illustrated throughout with Bewick's masterful wood-engraved figures of birds and his characteristically humorous, and occasionally macabre, vignette tail-pieces. Adding to the charm of this set is the distinct armorial bookplate of Arthur Stanley Towsey affixed to the front pastedown, situated alongside an early tipped-in bookseller’s catalogue clipping that rightly champions the edition's elevated status.

Thomas Bewick's A History of British Birds remains a towering achievement in both ornithology and the art of wood engraving. First published at the turn of the 19th century, this accessible yet scientifically keen work effectively birthed the modern field guide, bringing the vivid realities of British avian life to the wider public. Bewick's innovative use of end-grain wood engraving allowed for an unprecedented level of texture and vitality, ensuring that these volumes are not merely natural history records, but enduring works of art.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Thomas Bewick

Book Publisher: Edward Walker / Longman and Rees

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: History

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages:

Book Publication Year: 1805

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Half Leather over Marbled Boards

Illustrator: Thomas Bewick

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Newcastle, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.